The 2017 World Water Development Report shows that improved wastewater management is as much about reducing pollution at the source, as removing contaminants from wastewater flows, reusing reclaimed water and recovering useful by-products. Together, these four actions generate social, environmental and economic benefits for all society, contributing to overall well-being and health, water and food security, and sustainable development. The cross-cutting importance of wastewater is highlighted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, through Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation, and especially Target 6.3 on halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling, and safe reuse globally.

Where does water come from? Will we run out of it? Who decides how much water we can use? Is there something we can do? In order to connecting the dots and enhancing the understanding of the general public on how we use and manage our freshwater resources, the United Nations World Water Assessment Programme (UN WWAP) of UNESCO together with its Partners produced a unique project called The Water Rooms.The Water Rooms consists of a visionary and inspirational itinerary of 5 short animated movies intertwined by 5 monologues that trigger interest and encourage learning about freshwater resources and their responsible management in the context of sustainable development. The itinerary revolves around the leitmotiv "discover, understand and change".

Get inspired by the stories of these leading women: each story shows a different dimension of the central role women play in achieving the international agreed goals for water for all uses and sanitation.

Finnish Water Forum (FWF) represents through its members the variety of different actors in the Finnish water sector. As a joint network of the private and public water sectors it serves as a platform through which commercial enterprises, government and non-government organizations, scientific institutions and water related associations can consolidate their water knowledge to find solutions for global water challenges.Our members have a long experience in the world market, offering efficient engineering and consulting services. Through FWF this competence is supplemented with high quality expertise in institutional and administrative matters and in education and research. FWF serves as a contact point for any inquiries addressing the Finnish water knowhow – whether it is related to industry, technology, science or management.FWF was established in 2009 by commercial enterprises, government and non-government organizations, scientific institutions and water-related associations.

1. The water – agriculture nexusThe sustainable management of water and other precious natural resources is one of the defining challenges of our time. Water is a vital resource in the EU, not only for agriculture but for human health, energy production, nature conservation, and transport, to name but a few policy areas.

The multiple benefits that agriculture provides to society depend on the long term sustainable management of natural resources, including water. However a number of current pressures are affecting the quantity and quality of our water supply, affecting its current and future sustainability.

Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in. There is sufficient fresh water on the planet to achieve this. But due to bad economics or poor infrastructure, every year millions of people, most of them children, die from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene.

As one of the Forum’s flagship reports, the Global Risks Report has been a collaborative effort since its first edition in 2006. It draws on the unique expertise available within the Forum itself and its different communities and knowledge networks.

It also builds firmly on the Forum’s ongoing research, projects, debates and initiatives. As well as reflecting the views of leaders from our various communities through the Global Risks Perception Survey, the insights presented here are the result of numerous discussions, consultations, and workshops.

MM SpA is a leading Italian engineering firm specialized in the design and construction of public transportation infrastructure and urban redevelopment projects promoting the sustainable development of the local area.Founded in Milan in 1955, MM is responsible for the construction of the city's entire metropolitan rail system - 108 stations and over 100 km of track - and for major traffic and hydrological engineering projects.

This report seeks to expand on our annual Sustainable Cities Index to focus solely on water and identify which city is harnessing its water assets to its greatest long term advantage. It is our hope that city leaders find this ranking to be a valuable tool in helping them to think of water as an opportunity and as a resource for economic development while also meeting the critical needs and safety of their residents and the environment